Christina Aguilera: I love Hawaii
After you're beached out, take a zip wire trip
Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Christina Aguilera adores Hawaii and says: 'Beaches and Hawaii are musts during my tour. Whenever I get any time off, I try to make sure we can schedule a stop in Hawaii. I don't let anybody touch those dates. I keep everyone out of my hair, get a tropical drink and just go about being cute.'
It's not just surfers and hula girls
If you've never sampled the perfect Pacific paradise, it's time to head for Hawaii and the glorious unspoilt island of Kauai – lovely all year round
Say the word Hawaii and you'll instantly think of hula girls, surfers and paradise beaches on which you'd gladly be stranded. But beyond the sand, sea and exotic dancing, there's an amazing world to discover.
Hawaii's made up of four main islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. Each is dominated by spectacular volcanic peaks with steep craggy faces and mile upon mile of jungle canopy. Beneath the luxuriant foliage are volcanic craters teeming with exotic flowers and sparkling cascades, where crystal waters plunge into unspoiled rock pools perfect for swimming.
While Hawaii's most famous for its packed, American-style destinations such as Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, the old tropical character of Hawaii lives on in the lesser known island of Kauai.
Nicknamed the 'Garden Isle', Kauai's the smallest and least populated of the four main islands. And, as it has no major towns, it's also free from high-rise hotels. At its centre a vast area of wilderness surrounds the mist-covered Mount Waialeale – one of the wettest spots on Earth. From here, ragged cliffs run all the way to the ocean's edge and between them lie countless sandy beaches and secluded coves lapped by turquoise waves.
Calum Best says: 'I love Hawaii because it's romantic, beautiful, exotic and has great weather. I've always loved the beach, sand and salt water make me feel healthy. It's natural and so good for you.'
Must see, must do
Go tubing
Kauai used to be a major producer of sugar cane and the irrigation ditches that once watered the crops have been turned into a unique mountain water ride known as tubing. You strap on a miner's helmet, sit in a rubber ring and float down the twisting, water-filled rock tunnels past breathtaking landscapes and overhanging trees.
Explore by road
Should you tire of the water, you can also leap on Jeeps, quad bikes, horses or mountain bikes to discover the beautiful inland.
Skim the tree tops
Alternatively, embark on a thrilling zip wire tour – just strap yourself in and literally skim across the tree tops for a close-up view of the exotic birds.
Go snorkelling
Kauai's 90-mile coastline provides a home to hundreds of different fish species, one third of which are found nowhere else in the world. The snorkelling and scuba diving are legendary.
Hire a sea canoe
If you'd rather be above the waves than under them, an easy-to-paddle sea canoe is the perfect way to enjoy the stunning coastline.
Go whale watching
Regular boat trips ferry visitors out to sea to watch the passing humpback whales, sharks, playful dolphins and flying fish.
Go sightseeing
The Na Pali Coast State Park at the northern tip of the island has one of the most dramatic coastlines on Earth, thanks to its fluted sea cliffs, or pali, that rise sharply from the white sand beaches and grassy hills below. These hide an array of caves and secluded bays that can be explored on guided sea kayaking tours.
Sail inland to the royal grotto Head to the east of the island and you can journey further into Hawaii's past by sailing up the Wailue River to the Fern Grotto, a beautiful volcanic cave cloaked with ferns and cooled by the mists of a waterfall.
At one time, the grotto was the private garden of Hawaiian royalty. But these days, it's a popular venue for weddings and traditional Hawaiian feasts called luaus.
Picnic at the Wailua Falls Further upstream, gasp at the Wailua Falls which gently cascades 80ft into the jungle and provides a spectacular spot to have a picnic and a dip.
Alternatively, head west to the dazzling Waimea Canyon. Nicknamed the 'Grand Canyon of the Pacific', the enormous chasm is 10 miles long, one mile wide and more than 3,600ft deep and its walls constantly change colour with the movement of the sun.
Natasha Bedingfield says: 'Hawaii's my favourite holiday destination – really hot and just as perfect as you'd imagine it to be. The scuba diving's amazing because of all the tropical fish and I'd love to explore the volcanos.
Food and drink
Make sure you sample a Hawaiian feast, or luau, before you leave. This is the traditional way of honouring the local gods with food, dance and music. The festivities centre around a stone-walled fire pit called an imu, which is used as an underground oven to bake a pig wrapped in banana leaves. After four hours of cooking, the baked pork is served with poi, a glue-like purple paste made from pounded taro root, plus roasted chicken, biscuits, rice, fish and a variety of local fruits and vegetables.
Wash it down with a Mai Tai A visit to Hawaii wouldn't be complete without trying one of these strong cocktails made of rum, lime, lemon and orange. Or you can opt for Hawaiian coffee and a selection of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, which are both locally grown specialities.
Fact file
Language: English and Hawaiian.
Currency: US dollar.
Flight time: Around 19 hours from London, with a connection on the US west coast.
Time difference: 10 hours behind in our winter, 11 hours behind in our summer.
Climate: Warm all year, with an average of 28°C/82°F from April to September and 20°C/ 68°F from December to March.
Special visa or vaccination: From 26 Oct 2006, it's expected that all UK citizens will need a biometric passport to enter the USA without a visa.
Further information: Call 020-7202 6384 or visit
www.hawaii-tourism.co.uk.
Phil Boucher
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